Ampulla & Spoon

The Ampulla (dated 1661) is a golden eagle, some 8 inches high with a wingspan of 7.75 inches that holds the holy oil used to anoint the Sovereign during the Coronation Ceremony. The oil comes from the beak and there is a small hole in the throat to facilitate the flow of oil into the spoon. It has been said that the head is older than the body as the screw thread was thought to have been of fourteenth century rather than seventeenth century design. Modern experts do not subscribe to this theory and date the whole vessel as seventeenth century. Oliver Cromwell disposed of the previous Ampulla during the Commonwealth period.

The silver gilt spoon is the oldest piece in the regalia and may date from the late twelfth or early thirteenth century. The design on a small chalice found in the tomb of Archbishop Hubert Wallter, who crowned King John in 1199 is the same as that on the bowl of the spoon. The spoon has been regilded twice, and four small pearls, added to the stem for the Coronation of Charles II in 1661 were replaced in 1689. Otherwise it is virtually in its original state and is 10.5 inches long. At the sale of the King's goods by the Commonwealth in 1649, Clement Kynnersley, a Yeoman of the Removing Wardrobe to Charles I, bought it for 16 shillings. On the Restoration in 1660, he took up the same post with Charles II and returned it to the King.

Both the Ampulla & Spoon are on display at the Jewel House at H.M. Tower of London.

These miniature recreations are cast in fine english pewter, then plated in gold.